MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Did Paperback Digital go out of business?

rhadin · 01-02-2008, 11:21 AM

I am new to ebooks so I apologize in advance if my question is naive, but here goes.

I wqas given a Sony Reader for Xmas and I have purchased 3 books from Sony Connect that I assume are DRMed (if Sony closes and I lose out, I'm out $20 so I won't complain right now). But to get the books onto my Sony, I had to download the books to my computer then transfer them to the Reader. So my questions:

If Sony stops selling ebooks and Readers, don't I still have access to the books I bought because they are on my computer (assuming I still have the Reader to upload them to)?

If I buy a new device, don't I still have the books to upload to the new device, assuming the format is readable by the new device?

If the format is not readable by the new device, isn't the problem of unlocking the DRMed books the problem of the book publisher, not of the device maker?

So, in the case of Paperback Digital, isn't the true culprit the book publisher, not Mobi? Or is it Mobi that insists on the application of DRM to the ebooks?

If it is the publisher, who is responsible for insisting on the DRM, then why not contact the publishers involved and ask what they are going to do. For those that are willing to help, encourage other ebook buyers to buy books from them; for those unwilling to help, encourage buyers to avoid their books.

01-02-2008, 11:21 AM	#20
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I am new to ebooks so I apologize in advance if my question is naive, but here goes. I wqas given a Sony Reader for Xmas and I have purchased 3 books from Sony Connect that I assume are DRMed (if Sony closes and I lose out, I'm out $20 so I won't complain right now). But to get the books onto my Sony, I had to download the books to my computer then transfer them to the Reader. So my questions: If Sony stops selling ebooks and Readers, don't I still have access to the books I bought because they are on my computer (assuming I still have the Reader to upload them to)? If I buy a new device, don't I still have the books to upload to the new device, assuming the format is readable by the new device? If the format is not readable by the new device, isn't the problem of unlocking the DRMed books the problem of the book publisher, not of the device maker? So, in the case of Paperback Digital, isn't the true culprit the book publisher, not Mobi? Or is it Mobi that insists on the application of DRM to the ebooks? If it is the publisher, who is responsible for insisting on the DRM, then why not contact the publishers involved and ask what they are going to do. For those that are willing to help, encourage other ebook buyers to buy books from them; for those unwilling to help, encourage buyers to avoid their books.